Switch



March 11,1947. HORMAN 2,417,200

SWITCH Filed Aug. 10, 1944 INVE TOR i Z4 M T 74 Patented Mar. 11, 1947swrron John 11. Roman, Tnckalioe, N.Y., assignor, by memo assignments,to Allied Control Company, Inc., New York, N. Y., a corporation of NewYork Application August 10, 1944, Serial No. 548,839

6 Claims.

This invention relates to switches.

A certain type of switch consists of an oscillatable bridging memberwhich is movable between two positions in one of which the ends of thebridging member engage one pair of contacts and in the other of whichthe ends of the bridging member engage a different pair of contacts.Such type switch is often embodied in a relay structure with thebridging member being carried by an osciilatable armature.

An object of this invention is a mounting for the bridging member ofthis type switch so that definite engagement of the bridging member endswith the contacts is assured.

In a switch embodying the invention, the

bridging member is provided with an opening in which is received the endof an oscillatable shaft. A resilient member is fixed to said shaft andhas its ends connected to the ends of the bridging member. The bridgingmember is provided with a pair of contacts at each end and a pair ofstationary contacts is provided for engagement by each set of bridgingmember contacts. Oscillation of the shaft is effected by any suitablemeans such, for example, as the armature of a rotary magnet and rotarymovement is transmitted from the shaft to the bridging member throughthe medium of the resilient member. The design is such that the shafthas a certain amount of overtravel so that when the shaft comes to restthe bridging member contacts are pressed into engagement with thestationary contacts under tension exerted by the resilient member.

Other objects, novel features and advantages of this invention willbecome apparent from the following specification and accompanyingdrawings, wherein:

Fig. l is a plan view of a rotary type relay equipped with a switchembodying the inven= tion;

Fig. 2 is a side elevation thereof;

Fig. 3 is a section on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a side elevation of a modification;

Fig. is a section on the line 5-5 of Fig. i, and

Fig. 6 is a section on the line 6-6 of Fig. a.

The relay embodies a coil and armature 'arrangement not specificallyshown and this particular structure is not part of this invention. Thearmature is supported by an oscillatable shaft ID on which is mounted acontact bridging member II. The shaft Hihas a cylindrical axial recessI2 with opposed radial slots I3 leading therefrom to the exterior of theshaft. Two

2 thin resilient plates I4 and I5 fit into the slots I3 and havesemi-cylindrical offset portions I6 and Il fitting the cylindricalrecess I2 and serving to prevent radial movement of the plates. A secondpair of heavier but resilient metal plates l8 and I9 havesemi-cylindrical ofisets 20 and 2| surrounding the shaft I0 withsubstantial clearance between the shaft and the plates. The plates IEand I5, I8 and I9 are interconnected at their ends and carry contacts 22and 23. Preferably, the plates Id and I5 are of slightly greater widthcentrally than the plates I8 and I9. The central portions of the platesi6 and I5 rest on a shoulder 24 on the shaft Ill and are engaged by thenut 25 on the shaft whereby the bridging member M is supported by theshaft.

A pair of stationary contacts as are provided for alternate engagementby the contacts 22 and a similar pair of stationary contacts Z'I areprovided for alternate engagement by the contacts 23. The shaft II isrotated clockwise electromagnetically to establish engagement betweenthe bridging member ii and one combination of stationary contacts 26 and2t and is rotated counterclockwise by a spring 28 to establishengagement between the member II and the remaining set of contacts 26and 21. A slight over= travel of the shaft #0 beyond that necessary toestablish engagement between the movable and stationary contacts ispermitted by the resiliency of the plates 9% and I5 as well as by theclearance between the shaft I2 and the portions 26 and 25 of the platesit? and i9.

In the modification of Figs. 4, 5 and 6, the shaft is is provided with aslot 29 in which is received a length of resilient wire 3%] bent intothe shape shown in Fig. 6. From one end of the slot 29, the wire atoverlies the periphery of the shaft it clockwise for and then extendsradially while from the other end of the slot 2!) the wire (it followsthe periphery of the shaft it counterclockwise for 270 and then extendsradially, The bridging member 3i consists of two thin metal plates 32each provided with a semi-cylindrical ofiset 33 and end contacts 343.The two plates 32 are interconnected as shown in Fig. 5, thereby forminga central aperture through which the shaft Ill extends. The member 31 isat right angles to the slot 29 and the ends 35 of the wire 30 are bentparallel to the axis of the shaft Ill and are aihxed to the member II byany suitable means such, for example, as welds. This arrangement allowsfor slight overtravel of the shaft It in the same manner as abovedescribed.

asiaeoo I 3 The arrangementherein disclosed is simple and inexpensivebut eflectively assures definite en easement of the movable contacts 22and 28 with the stationary contacts 263 and 2?. This assur ance isobtained by having the extent of rotary travel of the shaft iii slightlygreater than is necessary normally to establish engagement between themovable and stationary contacts. By reason of this permissibleovertravel, the movable contacts are definitely brought into encasementwith the stationary contacts and are held in engage ment by the tensionexerted by the resilient mem bers id and it in the first modificationand ml in the second modification.

E claim:

i. In a switch, a slotted rotatable shaft, a member rotatably mounted onsaid shaft, said member comprising a pair of interconnected metalplat/es having centrally arranged semi cylindrical ofisets defining anaperture receiving said shaft, a resilient element arranged in the shaftslot and having its ends attached to the ends of said member, a pair ofstationary contacts on either side of each end of said member, and meansto efiect rotation of said shaft,

2. A switch according to claim 1 characterized by the shaft slot beingat right angles to said member and said element being bent around saidshaft in opposite directions from the ends of said slot over a p rtionof the shaft periphery.

3. In a switch, a slotted rotatable shaft, a memher having an openingreceiving said shaft, 9. re-

silient element arranged in the shaft slot and having its ends attachedto the ends of said membar, a pair of stationary contacts on either sideof each end of said member and means to eflect rotation of said shaft.

4. A switch according to claim 3 characterized by the shaft slot beingat right angles to said member and said element being bent around saidshaft in opposite directions from. the ends of said slot over a portionof the shaft periphery;

5. A switch comprising a slotted rotatable shaft having a centralrecess, a resilient element fitted into the shaft slot and having anenlarged 'portion fitting said recess, a member consisting of a pair ofplates having opposed semi-cylindrical onsets forming an aperturerotatably receiving said shaft, said plates being connected at theirends to said element, a pair of stationary contacts at either side ofeach end of said member, and means to efiect rotation of said shaft.

6. A switch accordineto claim 5 in which said resilient elementcomprises two thin plates having centrally opposite semi-cylindricalportions fitting said recess. JOHN H. HORMAN.

REFERENGIES CITED The following referencesare of record in thefile ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,824,178 Taylor Sept. 22, 1931781,416 Gregory Jan. 31, 1905

